But some here are clearly afraid of the Stryker zoning that is coming for them.
I have been a zoning zealot for over 20 years, and even I believe that Mortal Kombat 1 ought to have better movement, which helps zoning and rush down characters respectively.
You're just projecting here. The people who want to play Zangief have no problem with him being slow and methodical powerhouse.
In Street Fighter 6, every character, including Zangief, has access to drive rush, which essentially functions like a toned down run from Mortal Kombat X. However, for some characters, the run is as fast as any run in Mortal Kombat X so there is variety among the roster for those who are concerned about homogeneity.
While this mechanic obviously helps rush down characters, it also helps zoning characters, whose zoning would otherwise be too powerful and too frustrating to overcome, especially for new players.
Players have always enjoyed Tekken for its freestyle movement, and I am certain that Tekken 8 will be no exception.
For the first time in a long time, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Tekken will be released in the same year, with Tekken arguably being released early next year. While Mortal Kombat will sell no matter what, its standing in the competitive scene will be short-lived and forgotten if NRS refuses to add depth, variety, and long-term appeal to the game for tournament and casual players alike.
Superior movement options are a part of this equation.